The Great Commission charges believers to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. This edition of ACC Emag gives focus to missions and church planting, to fulfil the final command of Jesus.
ACC SNAPSHOT: Celebrating ACC Church Life
NEWS New State Presidents
State Conference News
Voice for the Voiceless
Building Unity within the Global Community
WE NEED REVIVAL
by Jacqueline Grey
CENSUS DATA ABOUT PENTECOSTALS IN AUSTRALIA
by Philip Hughes
WHO'S IN THE PEWS
NCLS research
FREEDOM FOR FAITH
& MAKE DISCIPLES
by Wayne Alcorn
INSPIRATION FROM PANASIA
WINNING SOULS, DISCIPLING BELIEVERS & PLANTING CHURCHES
by John Hunt
IN IT TOGETHER
Interview with Andrew & Maija Thomas
PRESSURE POINTS OF CHURCH PLANTING
by Corey Turner
CHAMPIONING CHURCH PLANTERS
Interview with Ian Kruithof
CHURCH PLANTING INSIGHTS
Interview with Mark Varughese
CHURCH
by Graham Corney
A PASSION FOR YOUTH
Interview with Andrew & Ashley Williams
THE YOUTH
DISCERNMENT AS DISCIPLESHIP
by Tania Harris
THE BURNOUT BATTLE
by Amanda Nickson
WHY YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM SUPERVISION
by Susan Marcuccio
RELEASES
RESOURCES
Congratulations to Ben Naitoko who was elected as the new QLD+NT State President at the State Conference in October.
Ben and his wife Trish are the senior pastors of King's Church Australia. He has served on the Qld State Executive for four years, holding the office of State Vice President.
Ben has been an ACC pastor for over 20 years; starting as a Youth Pastor in Mackay, and was founding Principal of Planetshakers College (now iSEE College) in Brisbane, and the founding campus director of the Alphacrucis College Brisbane Campus. He is also the current board chairman of Youth Alive Queensland.
Ben and the QLD+NT pastors would like to honour and thank John & Francine Hunt for their service and leadership to the State for 12 years at the helm as State President. He has led the state and territory from strength to strength with exemplary leadership, and we pray for great days ahead.
Congratulations to Matt Sharples, the new State President of Tasmania. Matt and his wife Karen have served Tasmania for over 25 years. A former high school teacher, Matt pastored the youth at Kingborough Christian Life Centre, before they were invited to lead Abundant Life Church 17 years ago. Matt has served on the State Executive for ten years, and continues to serve as State director for Youth Alive. He also heads up Sports Chapliancy Tasmania.
Matt and the churches of Tasmania want to extend their most sincere and warmest thanks to Dave and Alix Morse for eight years of tireless service in the State President role.
"They have navigated us through some of the most turbulent times of the modern church, namely compliance and Covid, all while establishing a great vision for church planting and generational leadership development. The new Tasmanian State Executive is well placed to see this become a reality. Ps Dave is an ambassador, a friend and we are so honoured and humbled that he will continue as Vice President."
Thank you to all those who are serving our pastors and churches in the next season of State leadership
State President: Matt Sharples
Vice President: David Morse
Secretary/Treasurer: Martin Oravec
Executive: Peter Shurley
Jonathan Deal
State President: Matt Heins
Vice President: John Spinella
Secretary/Treasurer: Mark Bates
Executive: Phil Linden
Graham Shand Kerrin Wallis
Katrina Yassi
State President: David Hall
Vice President: Rob Santostefano
Secretary/Treasurer: John Griffiths
Executive: Janine Donato
Josh Greenwood
Dave Hamalainen
Greg Johnston
State President: Joel Chelliah
Vice President: Ally Cawthorn
Secretary/Treasurer: Grahame Barlow
Executive: Christie Blaikie
Ken Fletcher
Patti Hardy
Nate Phor
State President: Ben Naitoko
Vice President: Craig Tomkinson
Secretary: Chris Mulhare
Treasurer: Ben Teefy
Executive: Dustan Bell
Lee Dallmann
Deb Van Bennekom
State President: Paul Bartlett
Vice President: Darren Bonnell
Secretary/Treasurer: Ken Fisher
Executive: Louise Antonius
Stephen Lott
Roz Zaia
Mark Zschech
A delegation of 40 women Christian leaders, including representatives from the ACC, called on all sides of politics to save lives from starvation in Africa and the Middle East.
ACT– The Micah Women Leaders Delegation met with senior government ministers, key opposition figures, cross bench MPs and minor party representatives in Canberra in September.
Each year Micah Australia organises a delegation of women to Canberra with the aim of bringing light to the plight of the ‘voiceless’ around the globe.
This year's campaign – Help Fight Famine –is supported by a coalition of Australia’s leading aid and development organisations. The goal of the initiative is for a $150 million package to prevent hunger crisis threatening almost 50 million lives in 45 countries.
ACC pastor, Bek Prosser, was a member of the Micah Women Leaders Delegation. She reported:
People think Parliament House is an intimidating place, but my experience has given me a different perspective.
The Help Fight Famine initiative focusses on nations that are currently on the brink of declaring famine. Armed with financial data, global statistics and some harrowing stories, we met with representatives from all ‘sides’ of politics to ask for support and aid to be given to these nations.
International aid can seem to be of little importance in a landscape cluttered by our own national
interests. Scripture, however, instructs us to give voice to the voiceless.
'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.' (Proverbs 31:8-9)
It is a great privilege to represent the worlds’ poorest to the decision makers of our nation. Throughout the day in Parliament House, I observed other groups defending a multitude of other causes. Our ACC churches are filled with generous people, many of whom freely give as they have freely received. When we consider God's generosity to us, our response is to be generous to those around us. Likewise, our beautiful nation has been immensely blessed, and we carry the responsibility to help our neighbours who have immense need.
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:29)
Another profound realisation for me was that the Parliamentarians, Senators and other Government officials whom we met, are also my neighbours. It is easy to forget the humanity of these people. They represent us and our congregations, and the communities in which our churches are planted.
Can I encourage you to reach out to your local member of Parliament, not to ask them to do something for your church, but to bless and encourage them? It is a simple but generous act. As a pastor and leader in your community, you are positioned in such a way to bless those around you who carry the weight of governing.
I was so grateful to have opportunity to pray for and with some of these men and women right there in their Parliamentary offices. What better place to share the love of Jesus, than in the halls of our Parliament House.
BEK PROSSER is an ACC pastor at Hope Centre, Qld.
THE FACTS:
• 50 million people in 45 countries are on the verge of famine.
• 10,000 children are alrady dying of hunger every day.
TOP 5 COUNTRIES AT RISK:
Ethiopia
Somalia
Yemen
South Sudan
Afghanistan
Conflict
Covid
Climate Change
We're calling on the government of Australia to:
Commit to an urgent $150 million famine prevention package
Tackle the root causes of the global hunger crisis
Strengthen the resilience of the Asia Pacific region
MORE INFO: micahaustralia.org
ACC has been represented by Rev Prof Jacqueline Grey at three major ecumenical events in 2022. In September, Jacqui was invited by the World Council of Churches to be a spokesperson for global Pentecostals at the 11th General Assembly in Germany in September. Jacqui joined a panel of international church leaders to speak on what Christian unity means today.
Jacqui was also invited to participate in two international ecumenical dialogues. One with the Anglican communion as part of the inaugural meeting of the International Pentecostal-Anglican Commission (IPAC) in the USA in June. The second invitation was a dialogue with the Roman Catholic tradition (the Catholic-Pentecostal International Dialogue) in Rome in July.
The goal of these ecumenical events was to foster unity among Pentecostals and other Christian traditions, and to help advance our common mission to witness to Christ’s love in and for our world.
IPAC USA
READ the full report of these ecumenical dialogues.
ACC23 will run six ministry streams for all conference delegates on Tuesday, 18th April 2023. These workshop sessions are designed to practically equip and resource you and your team in specific areas of ministry and are included in your registration.
Australia needs a move of the Holy Spirit like never before. The 2021 ABS Census data showed a decline in Australians identifying as Christians. This is across most denominational groups, including Pentecostals.
Across the board we saw huge growth in our churches in the 1980s, doubling our numbers in that time. According to the analysis of Prof Philip Hughes, the growth rate of Pentecostals continued at about 30% in the 1990s, then began to slow but still grow at 22% in the early 2000s. However, since 2016, the Census records point to negative growth. [Read the sobering report by Prof Hughes on the next page.] While no doubt we are dealing with the impact of the pandemic and the public exposure of some leadership and governa1nce issues in pentecostal churches which may continue to have an impact, but it seems like there is a shaking going on.
Hebrews 12:26-27 talks about a shaking that removes what can be shaken so that what remains is unshakeable. While this verse is pointing to an end-time judgement, it reminds us that when we really encounter God, we cannot stay the same.
What do we need to shake off in our lives, and in our churches, to prepare for a coming harvest? How can we get ready for a new work of God in our nation?
God is moving While Australia is experiencing a decline in those who identify as Christian, the Holy Spirit is moving across the globe. Christianity continues to increase globally - mostly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Pentecostal/charismatic Christianity is also increasing. According to Brill’s Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism, in 2020 Pentecostal/Charismatics made up over one quarter of all Christians. By 2050 this is expected to grow to 29.4%. Pentecostalism grew from just over one million adherents in 1900 to over 640 million by 2020.
Yet, we need revival here. Australia needs revival; not to reverse some statistics but so that lives will be restored by the love of Christ, families healed, and communities transformed. We pray: Come Holy Spirit! Let this truly be the ‘Great Southland of the Holy Spirit.’
REV PROF JACQUELINE GREY is Professor of Biblical Studies at Alphacrucis.
by Philip Hughes
The 1970s saw huge growth in the Pentecostal denominations in Australia, as was happening in many places around the globe. Between 1976 and 1981, the Australian Census recorded Pentecostal growth in Australia at 88%. It is likely that the true growth was even greater than this.
Some people attending Pentecostal churches have recorded their identity on the Census according to their heritage, such as Catholic or Anglican. Others have written ‘Christian’ on the Census form. The true number of Pentecostals has always been underestimated by the Census. However, it is likely that the Census accurately reflects changes over the decades.
The numbers of Pentecostals grew strongly in the 1980s when most other Christian denominations were experiencing decline, doubling between 1981 and 1991. In the 1990s, the growth rate slowed to less than 30% for the decade. Between the 2001 and 2011, there was 22% growth. In the five years between 2016 and 2021, the Census recorded a decline of 2%, with the actual numbers of Pentecostals falling by nearly 5,000.
The decline in Pentecostals has occurred in almost every part of Australia, except in rural Northern Territory. Pentecostals remain strongest in Queensland (1.4% of the population), moderately strong in South Australia (1.1%) and Western Australia (1.0%), and weakest in New South Wales (0.9%), Tasmania (0.9%) and Victoria (0.8%). Pentecostals are generally stronger in the capital cities than in rural areas. In Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, Pentecostals constitute 0.9% of the population.
In the 15 to 34 year age group, the numbers of Pentecostals declined by 13% between 2016 and 2021. Among the 35 to 54 year age group, the decline has only been 1%. However, there was a 40% increase in Pentecostals aged 75 to 84.
Decline is occurring in most Christian denominations with the Uniting Church, Salvation Army and Anglicans declining most rapidly. The fact that this pattern is so widespread across Australia and through most age groups means it cannot be blamed on what particular churches or leaders are doing. In fact, the pattern is most evident in the Western world, but detectable in most countries. It is best explained by a global movement of change, driven not so much by a change in beliefs, but a change in values.
As people focus increasingly on finding personal fulfilment through whatever interests them, they are less focused on the traditions and duties that religions have generally emphasised. The challenge for faith communities is to explore again how the Good News of the Christian faith can be best expressed in this changing world.
Young adult church attenders are most likely to report they are fully confident their local church can achieve what it has set out to do, according to results from the 2021 NCLS reseach.
They are also most likely of any age group to support the development of new initiatives at their church.
“This is an encouraging picture,” NCLS Research Director Dr Ruth Powell says. “The young adults in Australian churches offer the most positive view about their church experiences.”
A positive picture also emerges regarding leadership in churches. Young adults are more likely to occupy leadership or ministry roles at the churches they are part of, and they want to be more involved (29% vs 21% overall).
Nearly half of all young adults (15 to 30s) joined their church in the previous five years. Some moved from other churches, but nearly one in 10 (9%) young adults are newcomers without a church background.
Three in 10 young adult Australians say they attend religious services at least once a month. “In general, they know little about the Christian faith, but are curious rather than hostile” Dr Powell says.
The age profile of Australian church attenders has become even older over time with 36% of church attenders aged 70+. There are distinct denominational differences, with Pentecostal movements having a much younger age profile compared to others.
Regarding the ethnicity of church attenders, the proportion born overseas has risen over time. In 2006, 28% were born in other countries, while in 2021 this has risen to 37%.
“About a quarter of churchgoers (24%) speak a language other than English at home, with most being bilingual or multilingual,” Dr Powell says.
In other results from the 2021 NCLS, people who attend church are highly educated with 44% indicating they had a university degree –up from 27% in 2006.
When it comes to gender, there continues to be more women than men in Australian churches (61% women, 39% men). Dr Powell says every Australian NCLS since 1991 has shown this gender imbalance.
PHILIP HUGHES is a professor at Alphacrucis, and former director of the Christian Research Association.
“Across the globe, in most cultures and religious traditions, women tend to be more spiritual or religious than men,” she says. “They are more likely to pray, to say that faith is important and to attend worship.”
The statement below was released by Bishop Michael Stead, Chair of Freedom for Faith, is supported by the ACC. Let us continue to pray for the progress of this important legislation.
All Australians should be deeply shocked at the discriminatory treatment of Andrew Thorburn. According to press reports, Thorburn was forced to resign one day after being appointed as the CEO of the Essendon Football Club on the basis of the mainstream religious beliefs of a church with which he is associated. Thorburn should not have been forced to choose between his religious beliefs and serving the Football Club that he loves, and is so eminently qualified to serve. Thorburn was forced to resign after activists scoured the sermon archives of Thorburn’s church, and discovered sermons over the past decade that were not written by him or known to him. Some of those sermons condemned abortion and described homosexual sexual acts as sinful. These moral and religious beliefs are not “extreme” –they are mainstream beliefs which have been held for centuries by a wide variety of faith groups, including Christians, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs, and certainly in relation to abortion, are also held as moral views by many non-religious Australians.
The freedom to hold and express a religious belief is a foundational human right, which Australia has committed to as a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 18 of the ICCPR guarantees the right to hold a religious belief and to manifest that in worship, observance, practice and teaching. It further guarantees that “no one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice”. It appears that Andrew Thorburn has been subject to coercion to resign because of his religious belief.
It is completely hypocritical that the Essendon Football Club has engaged in this religious discrimination as an expression of their commitment to “stamp out any discrimination based on race, sex, religion, gender, sexual identity or orientation, or physical or mental disability,” as
the club has claimed in its statement. The club’s action in fact promotes discrimination based on religion. It is noted that no-one has alleged that Thorburn has discriminated against anyone who is gay or lesbian or who has had an abortion, including while leading several very large organisations in CEO roles across his career. He has been pushed out of his new role solely because of the moral and religious views expressed on a Church website with which he is associated.
In a statement by Dave Barham on behalf of the Board of the Essendon Football Club, Barham states that “Essendon is committed to providing an inclusive, diverse and a safe Club, where everyone is welcome and respected”. This is manifestly untrue. This action shows there is no commitment by the Essendon Board to embrace a diversity of moral or religious views. How welcome and included will players, staff and fans who hold these religious or moral views, or who are a member of the same Church as Thorburn, now feel at Essendon?
Australia has a long and proud tradition of respecting a diversity of points of view, especially on complex personal and moral matters. Notwithstanding deep differences, we have been able to live and work together with respect. But no longer in Victoria, it would appear.
Thorburn stated that he was forced to resign because “it became clear to me that my personal Christian faith is not tolerated or permitted in the public square, at least by some and perhaps by many.”
Freedom for Faith calls on the Albanese government to fulfil its election promise to implement a federal Religious Discrimination Bill as a matter of urgency, and to do this in such a way as to protect all Australian citizens from the kinds of religious discrimination, vilification and coercion that Andrew Thorburn has experienced.
READ the full statement here
The last few years have brought a lot of disruption to church es and pastors have had to lead in a season of incredible instability and uncertainty. The way we lead our churches has to change and the way forward can seem impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. Our Master of Leadership program has been designed to help you transform your leadership and increase your team’s focus and effectiveness. This practical program for senior leaders includes extensive study support and a dynamic learning cohort to help you succeed in your studies and your leadership.
If you are a Senior Pastor or Ministry Leader, we would love to invite you and your team to join our Masterclass. You will have the opportunity to hear from our guest speakers as they share lessons they have learned over many years of leading fruitful ministries, spiritual insight, and practical advice on how to lead and move in the power of the Holy Spirit. Connect with other pastors, ask questions, and receive personal prayer and impartation.
your leadership, transform your leaders, transform your world.
‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’
(Matthew 28:18- 20 NIV)
I posed this question at our PanAsia conference in August, where I listened to incredible story after story from our ACCI field workers. It was inspiring!
Our movement has always been committed to train leaders to go into the world and make disciples. Evangelism, missions and church planting are at the very heart of who we are.
Jesus said, “I will build My church’ and commissioned us, His disciples, to go and make disciples of all nations. Planting dynamic new churches is a key part of the strategy to make disciples. As C. Peter Wagner stated, “The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches.” (ref Church Planting for a Greater Harvest).
Many people are waiting for a move of God; but maybe He is waiting for a move of us? It’s time to become strategic about the Great Commission. Here are five things to include in our strategy.
We need leaders who are unashamedly committed to the Great Commission.
Everything starts with leadership; we need to lead from the front. Whether you’re a local pastor, youth pastor, kids pastor, creative pastor, our passion for the Great Commission and loving people will inspire others. Paul shows us how to lead our people in 1 Cor 11:1 ‘Imitate me as I imitate Christ.’
Know the law of the potplants. What you give attention to grows, but what you ignore dies. If we’re serious about our mission, we need to sing about it, pray about it, preach about it, write about it and continually talk about it. One sign of a healthy ministry, is this is always in focus.
Everything in the Kingdom starts small. Jesus spoke a lot about seeds, because that’s where things start. There were 120 people gathered on the Day of Pentecost. That seed has grown to more than 2 billion believers in Christ around the planet. That’s why we should never despise the day of small beginnings. Pioneers (the planters) are heroes. Let’s always be a movement that celebrates those who had the courage to step out and prepare the way for others.
Intentionally engage with the next generation. Here's a question to all local church pastors: When was the last time you had an altar call for missions in your church? There have been some exciting eras in Youth Alive, where there have altar calls (on camps etc.)
for teenagers who felt called to the nations. Students for Christ would also support young people who study, whose expressed intention was to go to unreached people groups, as bivocational ministers. Let’s always be creating opportunities for the next generation to step up and step out in faith. Maybe now is the time to start planning a short-term mission trip, to make your young people aware of the opportunities to serve Jesus across the globe.
To see churches planted and souls won, we need to release the intercessors. There is a lot of pain on the planet. Nations are groaning for all kinds of reasons. Yet there is another type of groaning going on...’the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered’ (Romans 8:26). I see the rising of an army of intercessors in this hour. Leaders, honour them and realise their important part in fulfilling our mission.
The Great Commission is for everyone. To fulfill Jesus’ command, we need the Groaners (intercessors) ; the Givers (financial supporters) ; and Goers (field workers). It’s a simple formula - Pray. Give. Go! All we have to ask is, where do I fit in this strategy?
Get ready ACC! There is a new exciting season ahead - with ACCI Missions under Pastors John & Francine Hunt’s leadership, and Church Planting, led nationally by Pastor Corey Turner. We are moving into great days.
Let’s keep looking to the fields, because they are definitely ‘ripe for harvest’.
WAYNE ALCORN is the National President of the Australian Christian Churches.
PanAsia 2022 was a great reunion of pastors, leaders and field workers who gathered in Phuket for the first in-person PanAsia conference since 2019.
Here's what inspired those who attended in August 2022:
John Hunt, ACCI Director: “PanAsia was a wonderful time for all those who attended. It was obvious that the three-year forced hiatus thanks to Covid had left everybody hungry for fellowship and thankful for the privilege of being together. Stories of faith culminating in souls saved and lives changed were inspiring, and the ministry by our movement’s leaders was world class.”
“MIssions gets you out of your bubble and into the agenda of the Kingdom. I love hearing the stories of the heroes on the ground. They inspire me by their commitment and willingness to leave family and everything familiar, to embrace a new culture, language, and way of life.”
Rebekah Rodda, Field Worker in Georgia:
“It was very spiritually refreshing and wonderful to be with so many like-minded people. It’s a terrific event that I encourage all who are interested in missions to go to.”
Matt Sharples, Tasmanian State President:
“I was challenged, inspired and moved to see more churches planted in both Tassie and India, and to play our part in supporting and releasing more fieldworkers.”
Ken Fletcher, ACCI State Representative, WA
“I loved the new format targeting different aspects of ACCI activity and involvement. God stirred so much in my heart for world evangelism, a fresh appreciation of the champions on the field and to keep a closer contact with ACCI missionaries and seek possible opportunities to bring teams.”
Ben Dacey, Pastor:
“A theme that stood out to me was that very few had a plan. They simply started with a heart, went in obedience and God did the rest!”
Sign up for the Missions Stream for a taste of PanAsia when you register for the ACC23 National Conference 18-20 April 2023.
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The Apostle Paul’s ministry in first century Ephesus is a great example to us about winning souls, planting churches, and discipling believers.
Over a period of three years, Paul transformed the culture of the city of Ephesus. He was then able to leave the church in hands of strong leaders to continue his mission to plant new churches and spread the Gospel.
In Acts 20, when Paul spoke to the elders of the church in Ephesus, he revealed five characteristics about soul winning, discipleship and church planting that can help us today.
You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears…’ (Acts 20:19)
Paul arrived in Ephesus with a different spirit to the culture of the day. Humility wasn’t a revered characteristic among the self-importance and superiority of those living in the successful, thriving trading centre of the Mediterranean. Paul’s humility can be seen in his tears – not tears for himself and his own personal pain, but his tears for the plight of the people of Ephesus. His humility came from a deep love for people.
Psalm 126:5 says that ‘Those that sow in tears will reap in joy’. Three years after he left, Paul reaped the joy of building a strong local church in Ephesus that was making disciples and influencing the community.
Paul’s acquaintance in Ephesus was opposition. As he put it, '…in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.' (Acts 20:19).
He had the challenges from the Jewish leaders, and also faced opposition from locals, such as the silversmiths who made idols of Artemis, who had long been the local goddess.
Despite the resistance and hostility towards him, Paul didn’t allow himself to become discouraged and persevered. Over time, his humility and empathy caused the people to experience the Gospel, and the local church in Ephesus was established.
'You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you.' (Acts 20:20)
The Apostle Paul’s unwavering conviction was to his assignment. He was committed to present the uncompromising truth of God’s Word, in a foreign culture.
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Without hesitation, he brought truth into the lives of the local people, marrying grace and truth together that was helpful.
'...but have taught you publicly and from house to house.' (Acts 20:20)
Paul’s activity connected him with people, from public speaking and going from house to house. Through conversations and touching lives in the community, he broke down walls.
We can connect with people on different levels –be it academically or professionally – but it is when we connect relationally, there is authenticity. It means getting into the trenches together and sharing their struggles. There is no substitute for face-to-face connection.
It doesn’t matter where people come from, but the love of Christ draws people together.
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.' (Acts 20:21).
Paul’s ambition was a singular message – to turn people to God and have faith in Jesus. His ambition is our ambition.
Just as Paul entered in Ephesus in humility, we can build relationships with the same attitude so that people experience the love of God.
We have no other message but the message of Jesus. We take that message so that people can experience the love of God. Cultures can be transformed just as Ephesus was transformed and was never the same again.
JOHN HUNT is the Director of ACCI and ACC Vice President.
John Hunt, Director of ACCI, is hosting the Missions stream for everyone with a heart for the Great Commission. This stream will provide a taste of the PanAsia Missions Conference on the Gold Coast and a focus on “Give. Go. Learn.” If you’re a field worker, a local church Missions leader or someone with a desire to go to the global mission field, this is the stream for you.
Andrew and Maija Thomas pastor The Together Co. in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. They are passionate about bringing the reality of Jesus to the city’s young professionals and students – allowing his love to change people’s lives and the country’s future. Andrew shares with ACC EMag about the past few years of their church planting journey.
ANDREW: The past couple of years, like every church, have been a bit up and down. We started weekly gatherings at the end of 2019; then Covid hit in March 2020 and we had to go online. We were online for almost two years.
We started meeting in person again this year. We meet weekly on a Sunday afternoon, in a room above a café. A lot of people stopped coming to church through Covid and many are worried about gathering again, so it’s been a real time of rebuilding.
ANDREW: Our services are now bi-lingual. We have someone translating the preaching and news, although the praise and worship is still something we’re working on. The level of English is high in the city, and most people in our church speak English, but one of the best things about having a bi-lingual church is it creates community. It’s also this little taste of what the Kingdom of God can look like – people from every tribe, nation and tongue together.
During the week, a lot of the ministry we do is relational. We meet up with people, have meals and disciple them. I’m also involved with a lunchtime group in a local Christian school, helping connect some of those young people into local churches.
ANDREW: Christianity is completely new for most people, as it’s a Buddhist nation. Most young people have never been to church or read the Bible. Their
idea of Christianity comes from what they’ve seen in a movie, or an interaction with an NGO or a Christian organisation in the past. When we do Alpha, for example, we have to start from a different point than in Australia where there is at least some idea of who God is and some Christian values present in Australian culture.
It’s meant getting back to what’s essential and what’s not; learning to separate Australian culture from Kingdom culture, and Khmer culture from Kingdom culture. It’s about finding a way to all meet in the Kingdom of God and be Christians together.
ANDREW: One of our key challenges is building team. We lost a few key people over Covid – foreigners who moved away, or local people who took a few steps back. The people we have are amazing and we continue to invest time in them, but of course it builds slowly. Maija is still running kids’ church every week and I’m preaching every week and setting up the chairs. We’re still in that pioneering stage, particularly coming out of Covid.
ANDREW: Having young kids on the field is definitely challenging. But we know what we’re called to do and we firmly believe in bringing them on this journey with us.
At the same time, we are realistic about what we can achieve in this season and put limits on what we do. We’ve been here seven years and want to be here for many more. Making sure we’re okay as a family is a big priority.
ANDREW: Focus on the essentials – keep working on building good relationships, having strong discipleship, connecting with people and being there for them. Ministry and missions is a lot more to do with obedience than it is hitting KPIs! Keep doing what you’re doing, be consistent and be faithful.
Pastor Corey Turner will be hosting an intensive for church planters and potential church planters. If you are involved in pioneering a new church or campus, or you are interested in learning more, this is the stream for you.
IN YOUR ACC23 NATIONAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Being called to plant a church is both a privilege and one of the greatest acts of spiritual warfare there is in ministry. This is because you are taking spiritual ground away from our adversary and advancing the kingdom of God into places and spaces the enemy once occupied. It’s critical that we don’t underestimate, nor minimise the spiritual battle we are entering into when we pioneer a local church.
We need to be proactive to discern the potential pressure points that can come from planting a church. What are some of the pressure points we have to navigate as church planters?
Ignoring conflict in core team
Psalm 133 tells us that God commands blessing on our unity and therefore is one of the greatest weapons we have against Satan. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the unity of the core planting team is going to come under assault. Bad doesn’t get better the longer you leave it, so you need to be willing to confront the disunity in love and not allow unresolved tensions in relationships to undermine the vision God has given you.
The Apostle Paul declared to King Agrippa in Acts 26:19, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” When things aren’t going as expected, we can pendulum swing from no compromise to changing the vision every other week. Satan will tempt you to give up on God’s vision and pursue your own ideas of how things should look. You must hold the line and go back to the original encounter of what God has already said to you.
Proverbs 18:1 tells us that he who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgement. Why you plant a church is important. It mustn’t be fuelled by the need to be independent or build a platform for yourself. The only justifiable reason is the collective witness that God is calling you to do so. Symptoms such as a critical spirit, resisting input from others and exaggerating your successes are all indicative of an independent spirit. I suggest staying accountable to apostolic oversight and practicing repentance. This is key to avoiding the isolation of a Lone Ranger mentality.
Trying to do too much too soon This will leave you feeling exhausted and frustrated and will ultimately lead to a loss of passion and decreased engagement from the infant congregation. It’s important that every church plant acts their age and not run ahead of God’s timing of maturation. We can’t expect a 2 year old church to act like a mature adult church of 30+ years.
Everyone who connects with a new church plant from other churches will have an idealistic expectation of what your church should look like. One YES must be defended by one thousand NO’s over time. I encourage you to narrow your focus and increase your impact. NO creates clarity, NO aligns your ministry and NO brings focus.
Nothing will cripple a church quicker than overcommitting financially in the early years. Church
planters need outside input and accountability around handling finance. Jesus outlined in Luke 16:10-11 that the litmus test of being entrusted with true riches is determined by our faithfulness with unrighteousness wealth. This extends to both the governance at the local church level and your stewardship of resource at a personal level.
Mis-prioritising leadership meetings over prayer meetings
Obviously, apostolic leadership is critical in a pioneering context but prayer is the supply line to the front line of our ministries. When the pressure is on, the first thing to be relegated to the back room is often corporate prayer. Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Matt 21:12-14). There will be a direct correlation between the fervency of corporate prayer and the growth of the church, both spiritually and numerically.
Ignore the pressure points of church planting at your own peril. I encourage you to be discerning, intentional and prayerful as you step out in faith to pursue all that God has put in your heart. The local church is still the only thing Jesus is building and when we yoke ourselves to Him and his calling upon us, we can be encouraged that He will build His church through us.
COREY TURNER oversights the Chruch Planting portfolio on the ACC National Executive. He and his wife wife Simone are the Senior Pastors of the multicampus Nuema Church.
Ian Kruithof served the ACC Victoria State as Church Growth Director, coordinating Church Planting and Health, for the past 15 years. He has pioneered healthy churches in Australia and overseas in more than four decades of ministry.
Q. As Director of Church Planting and Church Health, you have seen many churches start from small plants and become healthy churches in their communities. What does it takes to pioneer new territory for the Kingdom?
Q: What has always been your main passion and purpose over four decades of ministry?
IAN: My passion and purpose has been to serve Jesus however I could. There have been many opportunities to serve Him through our movement – beginning as a youth leader, then as a local church pastor, and to regional, state and board roles. Nationally, I was the ACC World Relief director and served on the ACCIR board for many years.
IAN: When I took on the role of Church Growth Director in Victoria, I did an autopsy on fifty failed church plants, to learn what did not work. Then I flipped the findings to discover the things that would produce sustainable plants. The main things were: a leader who is called and anointed to be a church planter with a history of having grown a previous ministry/venture.
The planter needs to be well connected with the movement and networks conducive to growth. Training at a bible college was also high on the list. The church should have a critical mass in people, finances, and ministries to launch in strength. The autopsy showed that starting in a sizeable local community whose culture suited the planter/core team was advantageous.
Victoria recognises a planter and plant if it has these factors. The state supports them with coaching and equipment and setup support. We do not endorse them as a provisional church or offer a credentials until there has been proof of ministry. This proof includes fifty people in fellowship, a functioning legal entity, regular weekly services, and attendance at ACC events.
Q. Can you describe some different modeals for church planting, and what works in different situations?
IAN: I have found that there are basically two models for church planting that work. These are the slow burn and the big bang. As long as the core team is strong and the approach is strategic and considered, both methods can work.
An example of a strategic slow burn is building small groups until sufficient people are available to start a church service. The big bang is a method that gathers enough people over a short period of time for a purposeful major church launch and then builds quickly on the momentum created.
Seasons of prayer and a well-communicated God-given vision are needed for both models. Both methods attract people through similar means. This may be through creating online communities, conducting expression of interest meetings in cafes, homes, or other venues, and holding events such as children’s fun days during holidays. Conducting Alpha, marriage or youth courses is another way to gather contacts. Crusade-style meetings with great music and ministry have worked to gather interest.
The new plant doesn’t need to do everything but I have found that a good standard of music, preaching, kids ministry, and coffee (fellowship) need to be provided.
Q: What makes a successful church planter?
IAN: A church planter should have a breakthrough spirit – to push through the challenges and kick some doors down mentality. Church planting is not for the meek. They must be a gatherer or be able to inspire gatherers. They need to have an outward focus to reach more people and build a monthly new contacts list continually, and not just rely on meetings to gather people. They should have the ability to rally to a cause, live godly lives, train and release ministries, bring the anointing of God, be strategic and structured, and love people.
Q. What were some of the unique challenges with Church health and growth in the recent pandemic years?
IAN: Church planting did slow but did not cease during the Covid years. Though Victoria had the hardest and longest lockdown, we endorsed more than one new work each month over those two years. Pivoting to online services became necessary.
Some older churches did not make it. Some smaller churches could not regather and the opportunity to shut down some unhealthy campuses was taken by some churches. Yet Victoria still grew overall. A good number of >
independent churches that had discovered the loneliness of Covid have joined the ACC.
Q. What are some keys you'd share with pastors regarding their health and the health of their churches?
IAN: Many books have been written on this. A healthy pastor usually means a healthy church. The reverse is often true, when the church is unhealthy perhaps it’s not all the people’s fault. A simple list however would include these headings: Learn to stress less; Create boundaries for you and your family; Remember your relationship with Jesus; Resist temptation; Be filled with the Spirit; Contemporize your ministry but operate in the gifts of the Spirit; Hang out with people of big vision, calling and capacity; Make good long-term decisions; Learn how to think and act strategically; Take holidays, and have date nights; Keep fit, exercise and diet; Have annual physical and mental checkups; Engage with the movement as often as possible; and be led by principles and processes, not by people’s wants.
Q. Anything else you’d like to add as encouragement to ACC pastors?
IAN: Pastors who are healthy are often too hard on themselves. They and their spouses need to recognise that they are amazing people, should be more appreciated. These men and women hold out faith in a faithless nation, pray for countless needs, sacrifice their time and finances, care for often thankless people, and endure criticism. By doing so they experience the joy and satisfaction of saving lives, see hope renewed, relationships restored, children taught the word, young people find Christian partners forming Christian families, older people being supported and cared for, and communities impacted.
To our ladies, I encourage you to rise to become senior ministers and church planters in your own right. Our movement began with churches that were planted by more female than male ministers. My wife was for many years a senior minister while I served in my state role. She was also a regional leader. I understand the challenges that women face through her but the kingdom cannot afford to have the 52% of our congregations that are females not engaged in these ministries.
In Victoria where a third of our churches are mono-ethnic ninetyfive percent close their doors within a generation. This has been a reality for over sixty years. To our migrant pastors, I would say position your churches for the future by transitioning culture and transferring influence to the acculturated second generation progressively as a priority.
IAN KRUITHOF has been an ACC pastor for over 46 years. Ian and his wife Lorri were honoured at the 2022 Victorian State Conference for their service to the Movement.
24% of ACC churches were started after 2013.
[Source: ACC 2019 Census]
2020-2021: 91 churches planted between April 2019
– April 2021
2019: 47 churches planted
2018: 33 churches planted
2017: 42 churches planted
2016: 25 churches planted
2015: 41 churches planted
2014: 58 churches planted
2012–2013: 49 churches planted
2009–2011: 40 churches planted
Over 2,000 churches were planted through ACCI between 2009 amd 2021
To plant 500 churches across Australia over the next ten years
ACC interview with MARK VARUGHESE
MARK: The only reason I planted our church in early 2006 was an obedient response to a ‘burning bush’ moment I had in September 2005.
This genuine God encounter was one that I didn’t earn, deserve or really even ask for. But I needed something so undeniable for what was in store. The nature of that encounter meant every other decision (which looked like a bold leap of faith) was actually much easier than it appeared. To sell your house, buy a one-way ticket to an Islamic country without a visa to plant a church seems like a bold leap of faith, but in light of my God encounter, it was obedience that I felt completely graced for.
MARK: Three things to remember when planting a new church.
I. Value God’s kingdom over the city.
Our name is “Kingdomcity” - because we are supposed to bring the kingdom to the city. This has helped guardrail the value that I need to be more influenced by the king dom than I am by the culture of a city. So the diversity of the cultures are subservient to the values of the kingdom.
2. Contextualise but don’t compromise.
It’s important to respect, understand and learn about the context in which you are going to plant. But only to the extent that you appreciate the setting in which change is going to happen. The danger is to ‘idolize’ local context which then becomes excuses and barriers against change and growth.
3. Unite around principles, not preferences.
Unity is a weapon that triggers blessing and acceleration, but whether that weapon builds or destroys depends on what we unite around. It’s vital that we unite around Principles, because it cements foundation. Uniting around ‘preferences’ encourages segregation.
We have found that expanding into any part of the world is an adventure that produc es fruit provided these principles aren’t violated.
Q: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MODELS AND OPTIONS, SO HOW DO POTENTIAL CHURCH PLANTERS WORK OUT WHAT WILL WORK BEST FOR THEM?
MARK: There are essentially two streams; either start your own autonomous church or join a team and start a campus or location.
The question is best answered by having an honest and sober assessment of your strengths, weaknesses, dreams and desires.
There are advantages and disadvantages with both but knowing yourself and what God has called you to is vital. If you don’t have a clear word from the Lord, it’s better to expand the Kingdom as part of a team.
If you want to be part of a team, understand the culture and learn all you can. There are many models and the culture of the team needs to be a fit with you if it is to work. Get to know what you are part of before you join up.
With increased governance pressures and stronger apostolic relationships, there seems to be a lot more ‘team’ centred expansion. But either way, we need to pray for more labourers. The system, model and wineskin is a preference, but the Great Commission isn’t.
MARK: If you are planting a campus, seek alignment and unity with the model and team that you are part of.
If you are planting an autonomous church from scratch, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Build community, create memories and stir up the adventure within the team you build. If you are starting, people aren’t joining your church because it’s the best, but because of the potential, the vision.
Faith is required whether you start a campus or a new church. Stay connected to others who are ahead of you and stay teachable. Size is not as important as strength –build a core team who will buy into the adventure and the growth will come. Be true to yourself and enjoy the journey.
MARK VARUGHESE is the founder and senior pastor of Kingdomcity, and member of the ACC National Executive.
'Governance quenches the Spirit.' More times than I would have liked, during my more than half-century of active involvement in many aspects of church life, I have had to disabuse this fringe notion, that governance is somehow ‘worldly’. Thankfully, the surrounding cultural environment in which we all minister and better training opportunities have worked to quench that notion once and for all.
Alphacrucis University College is relaunching its online Good Governance Essentials courses. I highly recommend these courses to anyone in leadership roles, whether at pastoral or board levels, who are interested in enhancing Kingdom outcomes throughout the constituent churches and other entities that make up our ACC Movement.
Better board competence, regardless of whether the church or entity is large or small, as an essential component of Kingdom outcomes, can only result in a wider reach of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I’m commending these courses not only to existing and prospective board members but also to our pastors. One of the distinctives of our ACC Movement is the focus on our pastoral leadership model. The development of better board competence can only assist in enhancing this distinctive rather than to be seen as derogating from it, or to be in competition with it.
The respective roles in the governance and management/ leadership equation have distinctive characteristics but there should never be entrenched fortifications between them. As with all Kingdom roles, one is not superior to the other.
The roles are vital, additive, synergistic and must combine to amplify good outcomes. These roles must bounce
ideas and share chemistry all within a spirit of honour, empathy and respect. Hubris and self-serving inclinations in any part of the equation can only damage Kingdom outcomes.
The Good Governance Essentials courses are interesting, informative, well-constructed and well-presented, the ACC Movement, and thus the Kingdom, will be well served by their relaunch. Anyone interested in serving the Lord in any capacity will also find them very helpful.
GRAHAM CORNEY OAM is the former lawyer for ACC and currently a member of the ACC Review Group.
This online course is an introduction for leaders of churches to the important areas of governing your church well. Directors are not merely liable for the results of their decisions, but in a fast-paced world, an aligned and strategically aware board will make better decisions faster.
Course Outcomes include the legal framework of churches in Australia; Important aspects of financial accountability, workplace health and safety, and risk management; Approaches to managing people, both staff and volunteer; and more.
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Youth Alive events in every state have seen large crowds of teenagers gather together with the same passion, excitement and spirit of the past forty years.
Cameron Bennett, National Director of Youth Alive, stated: "One of the great strengths of Youth Alive, is the ability to continue to evolve in such a way that it presents the same Gospel message, in a culturally relevant way to each new generation."
Queensland's Wonderworld event is Youth Alive reimagined, an outreach event that was unapologetic in presenting the Good News of Jesus
Christ. Wonderworld is fast becoming the best Christian alternative to the many festivals young people are drawn to.
Held at the iconic Butter Factory in Brisbane South, the night was packed with young people on rides, lining up at food trucks, watching extreme sports, while listening to various music artists.
"Young people thrive when they are together, which was very evident at Wonderworld, our first large scale event since the covid restrictions, " said Renee Bennett. "They need each other and they need the hope that only Jesus can bring!"
Hosted by Cameron & Renee Bennett, National leaders of Youth Alive Australia.
Youth stream provides an in-depth focus on reaching, raising and resourcing leaders for the challenges of high school youth ministry and young adults in the local church, including the emerging leaders and outreach to university students.
Q: Is there an openness in young people to hear the Gospel and make decisions for Christ, and be discipled?
ASHLEY: We’ve seen people more open to the Gospel than ever before. There is so much uncertainty in the world, fear, and lack of community etc. which I believe is contributing to people pursuing faith. They’ve got questions and we have the opportunity to partner with Holy Spirit to help make the introduction to Jesus, who is their answer.
ANDREW: I think more is caught than taught. If you can share your life with young people, that is the most impactful investment that you can make into their life. Let them see you as Pastor, Father, Mother, Friend, Businessman/woman. I’m the same person on that stage that I am when I am at home with my kids or leading in ministry spaces. I try my best to invite people into our life and let them walk alongside me.
Q: What are you seeing emerge with a new generation of youth leaders, and how are you raising them up?
ASHLEY: I see young leaders that want to be a part of an authentic move of God. I believe that Presence-driven churches are key to raising up the next generation of leaders. Young people are hungry for the presence of God; they will go where they can find it.
ANDREW: At every event we host, we try to represent the room. The room is made up of people from different cultures who have different life experiences and 50% of the room is female so we always have strong female
leaders speaking. Heaven will have every tribe and every tongue represented so we try our best to model what heaven will look and sound like when we choose our keynote speakers. We want to showcase different expressions of the kingdom.
Q: What would you say to young women who want to step into leadership?
ASHLEY: I would say “The great commission is your permission.” Start leading from where you are positioned right now. I’ve seen young women in particular try to echo other prominent voices that are in the church. I would say it’s okay to be an echo for a season, but you’ve got to find your voice, your message, your expression in the kingdom and release that. Lastly, be prepared and confident when given the opportunity to lead.
Q: Tell us about one memorable moment that has stuck with you from Youth Alive rallies in Western Australia.
ASHLEY: One of my favourite moments from a YA rally was in 2021. A student had just given their life to Jesus and moments later volunteered to pray us out for the night, but this was no ordinary prayer. it was his very first time speaking to God as a Son. It was the sincerest prayer that I’ve ever heard in my life. As he began to speak to the Lord, he was overwhelmed by the love of God. He could not fathom that he had instant access as a son with nothing to prove. He was so emotional he barely made it through that prayer and the entire room erupted and was left in tears. It was such a beautiful authentic moment of someone sincerely speaking to the heart of God without all the Christian lingo, just a raw real conversation with his Jesus.
Q: What have been some of the key focuses of YA WA for this year?
ANDREW: Many Youth Pastors have transitioned out over the last two years so this year we are putting a focus on building community, relationally connecting Youth Pastor/Leaders. We want to see God move in our schools. We are equipping student leaders to start clubs and prayer meetings on their campuses. We are helping Youth Pastors get connected with their local chaplains.
We are also putting a focus on young adults this year. Young Adults are the most unreached people group in the church today. So, we have a few things specifically for them.
Q: What is your personal hope and vision as youth leaders?
ANDREW: Our desire is for young people to have genuine encounters with the Lord. We want to see them carry a revival spirit in their hearts for the rest of their lives.
Q: How is God moving in the young people of Western Australia?
ASHLEY: Three incredible things stand out from our recent Youth Alive Conference in September 2022. Firstly, there was a filling of the Holy Spirit and refilling for many leaders with His tangible presence evident. The Spirit had the freedom to move in the room. We knew coming in from our prayer meetings leading up to the conference that the Spirit of the Lord was not going to be grieved and the room was His to move as He wanted. Secondly, a renewed Revival Spirit was released into the hearts of our leaders and students. They have a real desire to see the Lord move in their ministries, schools, and homes.
Thirdly, everyone was activated. It was ministry centric as Ps John Wimber used to say "everyone gets to play" and we saw that. It wasn't about a person carrying the ministry moments, it was Holy Spirit moving freely partnering with all who surrendered and stepped out.
ANDREW & ASHLEY WILLIAMS are the Associate Pastor and Creative Art Director at Urban Church. They are the WA Youth Alive State Leaders.
This article is adapted from Tania Harris’ new book, The Church who Hears God’s Voice.
Robert was a pastor of a thriving church in an inner-city suburb. After many years walking with God, Robert knew how to hear God’s voice. But now it seemed the voice was telling him something foreboding – his wife was going to die. Afterwards, he would marry the worship leader.
Soon after, a church member came to talk with Robert: “God spoke to me about you this week... He wants you to know that your wife is not going to die.’
The next day Robert booked a local hotel. There he slept with the worship leader. Afterwards, his marriage broke up and the church fell apart.
Robert’s story strikes dread in all of us. How could he have got it so wrong?
The concept of hearing God’s voice is an attractive one, but it is also dangerous. History tells the torrid tales of manipulation, deception and even murder justified by the claim: ‘God told me’. Encouraging people to hear directly from the Spirit seems to invite a truckload of ministry problems. When we hear stories such as Robert’s, our instinct is to shut the experience down.
But our knee-jerk reaction misses the point. The problem has never been the revelatory experience itself – after all, the Spirit was given to us for this express reason (Acts 2:16,17). The problem lies in how we manage it in the context of flawed human hearts and our very human churches.
Part of the solution must be to teach our congregations how to discern their experiences. Telling people they can hear God’s voice without training them to discern it is like giving a toddler a loaded gun! Research indicates that training should involve intentional teaching, modelling and the facilitation of open conversation in the context of authentic relationships.
But lack of training is only part of the issue. Most of our problems arise because of the state of our hearts. Robert’s story illustrates this vividly. Robert got it wrong in hearing God but, when faced with truth, his response was to book a room. The issue is not the experience itself or even its discernment - it is discipleship. Jesus said his people “hear his voice... and follow” (John 10:27). We become subject to deception when we make a decision to stop following Jesus. Hearing and discerning God’s voice is a matter of ‘followship’ and needs to be approached that way.
In our desire to protect people from pastoral fallout, we must not shut off the very thing that is able to bring truth and conviction (John 16:8). Of course, people always have the option to say no. Our answer lies not in shutting it down, but in doing everything we can to perpetuate a culture of discipleship. The one thing we can do is to actively encourage people to say yes.
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TANIA HARRIS (PhD) is an ordained ACC pastor, speaker, author, practical theologian and the founding director of God Conversations.
The road to burnout is easy when you care for others. There is always more that you can do – more needs to respond to, more expectations from those in positions above us, from the people you serve, and more expectations for ourselves all add extra pressure.
So, why do we need to talk about burnout? Burnout can be devastating. Some people never fully recover or return to their calling. Prevention is the best cure and better than dealing with recover. The risk is real. The needs and opportunities can be overwhelming. We need to be able to stay long-term in the vocation we have chosen. Some ministers birn out, leave ministry and never return. Some even leave the faith altogether.
What is burnout? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines burnout as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.”
Stress is a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life and work. Cumulative stress increases with each additional stressor.
We all go through stressful events in life. If there is some time for recovery, we get back to our equilibrium or balance. But what happens when there are several stressful events close together, one after another? The body and mind do not have a chance to recover – we are still in an elevated state of stress. Our “at rest’ stress level is still up. This can continue until our stress levels are so high, even the smallest final straw can break the camel’s back.
When our physical and emotional strength is totally spent and we feel unable to go on, this could be burnout. There are many indicators for burnout that are usually uncharacteristic of your usual behaviour, such as:
• Not wanting to see another person or hear another request
• Having no concern for the welfare of someone else
• Exhaustion or fatigue
• Irritability
• Negativity
• Feelings of inadequacy
• Reduced empathy
• Feeling isolated
• A sense of overwhelm or despair
• Conflicts in relationships
• Withdrawal and reduced intimacy
• Insomnia
• Purposelessness or a reduced state of making a difference or satisfaction
Reduced effectiveness and productivity
Tension headaches
• Upset stomach
• High blood pressure
• Anxiety and depression
It is interesting in the Bible, Elijah seems to experience burnout in 1 Kings 19. After Elijah’s great victory against the 450 prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, a person threatens to kill him , and Elijah runs away and hides in the wilderness. He appears to be exhausted and pleads with God to end his life! God allows him to sleep and provides food and water for him. God listens to Elijah’s worries and concerns. Elijah is reminded of God’s power in the storms and provision, and is soon restored to go on to a new task. Elijah rested, sought and listened to God and was then refreshed to resume serving.
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DR AMANDA NICKSON is an ACC Pastor, social worker and author based in Townsville, Qld.
People often ask me the question: What is supervision? It's a great question and one you may also be asking. Rather than simply trying to explain what supervision is in words, I decided to create the Three Ringed Model - a model that would help people to clearly understand what supervision is and what the main focus is.
The three ringed model is a visual picture that shows that the main focus of supervision is a person's work life or, put another way, their profession, vocation, business or ministry. It also shows that a person’s work life overlaps with their personal life and their spiritual life.
This model shows that in order for supervision to be holistic, we work in the overlap between work life and personal life but don't go so far that it becomes counselling or therapy. It also shows that we work in the overlap between a person's work life and spiritual life, but don't go so far that it becomes spiritual direction or takes the place of a person's faith community.
Another question I am often asked is: How is supervision different to other types of support? The ‘Three Ringed Model’ clearly shows that supervision differs from other types of support by having a clear focus on your work life but also importantly considers the overlap with your personal life and your spiritual life.
I had someone come to me for supervision recently. He was referred by his church. Having never had supervision before, in our first session together, I shared the 'Three Ringed Model' with him. I spoke about his work/ministry being central to supervision and how it would be the main focus in our sessions. He looked relieved and said: “That’s wonderful news as I feel like I have good support personally by my family and friends and I have a psychologist that I have seen a few times when I’ve needed it. I have a supportive faith community. The part that is missing is confidential support for my work life/ ministry. A place to go to help me grow and develop in my ministry, and to make sure I’m being the best that I can be in my role.”
He went on to say that he loved that supervision brought it all together and would support him in his work and also his work/life balance in the crossover between his personal life and his work life. Supervision also took into consideration what was important to him, his beliefs, his values and how that informed his work in the crossover between his work life and his spiritual life. I thought that his observations summed up supervision so well. It’s the missing piece of support for so many.
SUSAN MARCUCCIO is the National Supervision Director for Chaplaincy Australia and Supervisor TrainerFinding fresh strength and purpose requires the power of the Holy Spirit by Max Lucado
No, you can’t do it all on your own; Max Lucado reminds weary Christians that help is here.
In his genuine, story-telling style, Max Lucado recounts his own experience as a worn-out pastor, weighed down by all he felt he needed to be for his church.
Desperate for help and freedom, Lucado experienced a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit which changed everything for him. “I no longer think of the Holy Spirit as the Holy Who?” Lucado explains. “I now call him my Heaven-Sent Helper. He is the ally of all of the saints. He is our champion, our advocate, our guide.”
Lucado describes how coming alive to the power of God can be the defining moment in a person’s life—especially for one who desires to live fully in the will of God.
7 leadership principles for a church that lasts by Craig Groeschel
Lead Like It Matters* presents Craig Groeschel's transformative insights on how to effectively build a thriving, enduring ministry and organisation.
Using his skills as senior pastor of Life.Church, he combines straight-talk and wry honesty with biblical and leadership principles.
Lead Like It Matters reveals the secret for building ministry momentum and then keeping it going, including igniting a fire in your team to leave behind "what we've always done" for the meaningful ministry you know is possible.
* Note: Lead Like It Matters is a completely revised and updated version of It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It.
Equipping everyone to recognise and respond to the Spirit by Tania Harris
After experiencing the transforming power of hearing God's voice in her own life, Tania Harris set out to unlock the questions Christians have debated for centuries: How does God speak? How do you know it's God? and What difference does it make to the Church?
As the central feature of the Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost and the grand prize of the New Covenant, the prospect of universal access to the Spirit is a powerful but pastorally risky concept.
The book equips church leaders to safely and effectively lead their people into a powerful experience that was intended to be a normal part of every Christian's life.
How to beat being overwhelmed and burnout for sustainable leadership by Amanda Nickson
Are you experiencing feeling overwhelmed and exhausted in your role as a pastor, minister, chaplain, or leader in the church or marketplace?
Do you sometimes worry that you may be on the road to burnout?
Have you wondered whether leadership can be sustainable and enjoyable?
Social worker, pastor, author and speaker, Dr Amanda Nickson, shares insights and examples from her own life of resilience through challenging times to being able to teach others skills in sustainable leadership. Having experienced both compassion fatigue to the point of burnout, Amanda is well placed to share helpful insights into how to build sustainable and balanced lives.
What the Bibble says about the essential practice of tithing by Michael Grechko
Mastering the art of giving and receiving is critical to being a functioning member of any part of creation. To master either one without the other leads to a toxic existence.
Whether the issue is breathing, eating, or how we think about things, we must be willing to wrestle with our primary frameworks for both our inflow as well as our outflow.
With academic rigor, Dr. Mike does a fantastic job building a scriptural framework for success and generosity. Inside these pages, you will find an incredibly helpful tool to start your journey towards monetary wholeness. Can we allow the Word to be made flesh and create a habit in our lives to master the tension between Kingdom advancement and personal abundance?
Practical Models, Tools and Resources for Supervisors, Mentors and Chaplains by Susan Marcuccio
This in-depth compilation of resources and stories has been written to meet the needs of the trainee supervisor, as well as offer new teachings for the seasoned professional.
Developed over a 20-year period, the heart-wrenching and heartwarming accounts of courage and hope underpin the teachings as they are introduced and explained. This brings relevance and life to the tools which have been birthed out of many years walking alongside others.
For people considering becoming a professional or pastoral supervisor, New Perspectives in Supervision assists in exploring the very core of 'why' one might find purpose and truly flourish in a role in which others are supported along a journey of transformation and growth.
ACC EMAG #4 2022
Published by Australian Christian Churches. Editor: Daryl-Anne Le Roux editor@acc.org.au Proofreader: Elba Broadhead
Photography by: p. 1 iStock p. 8-9 Micah Australia p. 11 Provided by Jacqueline Grey p. 12 Neuma Church p. 18 Hope Centre p. 21 ACCI p. 22 D Le Roux p. 25-27 ACCI p. 29 Neuma Church p. 30 ACC VIC p. 34 Kingdomcity Church p. 36 iStock p. 38 Youth Alive QLD p. 40 Youth Alive WA p. 42 Priscilla Du Preez / Unspalsh p. 45 iStock p. 47 Toa Heftiba / Unsplash
ACC EMAG is published four times a year. Visit www.acc.org.au/emag to read more editions.
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